More Thoughtful Branches

Hi Stampers,

Here's one more look at Thoughtful Branches.  Remember, time is running out to order this set if you want it - August 31 is the last chance.  I've definitely gotten my money's worth from this bundle and plan to continuing to use it!   Here are the three latest cards I've used it on.  They're basically the same design, but the different colors & embellishments make them look totally different!

The first one uses Smoky Slate, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder & Pear Pizzazz.  The flower is embellished with small pearls.  On the second one, I used the die-cut as a mask and sponged over it on the card front with Melon Mambo.  The top layer of the flower is cut from Shimmery White and sponged in an ombre pattern, starting with Pink Pirouette at the top, then Sweet Sugarplum and Melon Mambo.  There's a second die-cut from Melon Mambo behind it.  The leaves are die-cut from Old Olive cardstock.  Embellishments are black & white Baker's Twine and some shimmery sequins.  The last one uses Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz and Gold Glimmer Paper.  Embellishments are Gold Metallic Thread and Wild Wasabi Candy Dots (retired).  All products are Stampin' Up! except for the sentiment on the first card and the sequins on the middle card.

If you would like to add this very versatile bundle to your craft stash, please click on the link below.  I would be honored to be your demonstrator!

Have a lovely day,
Pat

You're in my Thoughts

Hi Stampers,

Today I have another beautiful card made from the Thoughtful Branches bundle to show you.  I totally in love with this set, it's so easy to create cards that are simple, yet elegant with these stamps and die-cuts.

Here's the recipe for this card:

Begin with an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" (half sheet) piece of Crumb Cake cardstock.  Score the long side at 4 1/4" to form an A2 card.  Stamp the front randomly with leaves from the Thoughtful Branches stamp set using Versamark ink to create a watermark background.  Next add 3 strips of  Affectionately Yours  Designer Washi Tape.  On a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the greeting using Versamark and emboss with Copper Embossing Powder.  Don't forget to use your Embossing Buddy before you stamp to keep any powder from sticking where you don't want it!  Die-cut the greeting using the Lots of Labels Framelits.

On another scrap of Whisper White, stamp the hydrangea flower in Blushing Bride.  Die-cut this flower, plus one more out of Blushing Bride cardstock and the stem with leaves using Mint Macaron. Adhere the two flowers and leaves to the card front as shown.  Wrap a 36" length of Copper Metallic Thread around your hand a few times; slip it off and twist once in the middle.  Adhere to the lower right corner of the card with a glue dot.  Adhere the greeting over the top of the copper thread using Stampin' Dimensionals.  Add a few Basic Pearls to the flower.  That's all there is to it!  This card took about 15 minutes to make!

If you're loving the Thoughtful Branches bundle, remember it's only available until August 31 (or while supplies last)!  Click on the link below to order before they're gone.

A Very Special Balloon Celebration

Hi Stampers,

Today I have a very special project to share with you.  Recently I was asked to design invitations for a 90th birthday celebration!  I love special requests like this - here's what I came up with -

These were so much fun to make and my customer was very pleased.  On the inside we added a photo and printed out all the info using fonts to mirror the sentiment on the card front.

Sweet Sugarplum, Peekaboo Peach & Soft Sky are luscious together. They remind me of sherbet!

I hand-cut a template from a piece of sturdy acetate to sponge the clouds in Soft Sky.  Normally I use a piece of heavy-weight cardstock for a cloud template but I found that it was wearing out too quickly, as I made 40 of these.  The acetate works even better than cardstock, because you can see through it as you move it around the page!

Here's the recipe for this invitation:
Whisper White card base, 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored on the long side at 4 1/4".
Second layer of Soft Sky, 4" x 5 1/4".
Whisper White card front, 3 3/4" x 5".

Sponge clouds on the card front in Soft Sky ink.  Using the Balloon Celebration stamp set, stamp 3 balloons in Versamark, using Sweet Sugarplum, Peekaboo Peach and Soft Sky cardstock.  Emboss each with Iridescent Ice (sadly, retired) or Clear or White Embossing Powder.  Punch them out using the Balloon Bouquet punch. The balloon strings are stamped with Soft Sky and the sentiment is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black.  The "90th" is stamped in Marina Mist using the Number of Years stamp set and matching framelits.

I adhered the balloons and numbers using Tombow liquid glue.  This is the perfect adhesive for this project because it gives you a little "wiggle room" to line everything up perfectly before it sets.

After I finished 40 of these, my Soft Sky and Marina Mist ink pads were in desperate need of re-inking!  Luckily I have the entire set of Subtles re-inkers so I'm good to go again.  If you've never re-inked your pads or maybe you're not sure if you're doing it right, here's a short video from Patty Bennett that explains the process:

 Have a wonderful day,
Pat

Pretty in Pink

Hi Stampers,

Here is the final card that makes up my Thoughtful Branches Gift set:

Like the other cards in the set, the "swish" from Work of Art is stamped in Soft Sky ink and the greeting is stamped in Early Espresso.  The little birdie perched on "thank you" is stamped in Blushing Bride.  The trees are a group of three stamped twice in Soft Suede.  The leaves on the trees are all stamped once in Blushing Bride, then the middle three tree tops are stamped again in Flirty Flamingo.  It doesn't show in the photo, but the last step to make this card awesome is to stamp three of the tree tops in Versamark and sprinkle with my favorite Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  I was very sad when that embossing powder was retired - luckily, it lasts a long, long time!

Here is the box that holds the card set:

"For you" is embossed in Copper.  The box was made from Tip Top Taupe cardstock using the Gift Bag Punch Board .  The finished dimensions of the box are 4" x 2" x 2 3/4" tall.  The sides are decorated with separately cut pieces of Tip Top Taupe embossed with the Petal Burst Embossing Folder.  The box wrap is made from two pieces of Soft Sky cardstock cut at 8 1/4" x 2" joined at the bottom of the box and punched at the top with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch.  A gold binder clip provides the closure.


Thanks for stopping by to look at these projects today!
Pat

More Thoughtful Branches Plus Tips & Tricks for the Big Shot

Hi Stampers,

As promised, today I want to show you two more of the designs from my Thoughtful Branches Gift set.

The top layer of the hydrangea is stamped on Sweet Sugarplum cardstock using Sweet Sugarplum ink.  Then I covered it with a layer of clear Wink of Stella and layered it on top of another hydrangea cut from Rich Razzleberry cardstock.  The leaves are die-cut from Pear Pizzazz.  The "swishes" are from Work of Art, stamped in Soft Sky.  The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso.

With all of this intricate die-cutting going on, it seems a good time to share this video about using the Precision Base Plate with your Big Shot and keeping your cutting pads flat!

Thanks for stopping by,
Pat

Blushing Bride meets Copper

Hi Stampers,

Here are some more details on two of the note cards that make up my Thoughtful Branches Gift set!

They're the same card just oriented differently.  The first step is to stamp the "swish" from Work of Art using Soft Sky.  On this card I staggered them so that there would be color all the way across the card front.  Next I stamped the greeting as close as I could get it to the lower left corner using Early Espresso ink.  The tree trunk was stamped on a scrap of Whisper White using Versamark ink and embossed with Copper Embossing Powder then die-cut with the framelits that come in the Thoughtful Branches Bundle.  The leaves of the tree are stamped in Blushing Bride then die-cut; the second layer of the tree is die-cut from Blushing Bride cardstock without stamping.  The two birds are stamped with Flirty Flamingo.  Layering the tree with a darker color like this gives it a deeper, fuller look.  Another tip is to attach the two tree tops together opposite of each other, like this:  

I attached the tree to the card front using Snail, but Tombow liquid glue would work equally as well. The birds are attached with glue dots.

This card is made the same way, only the swishes are stacked instead of staggered.





Stop back tomorrow to take a closer look at two more of the cards that make up my Thoughtful Branches Gift set!

Happy stamping,
Pat

A Thoughtful Gift

Hi Stampers,

I've been hooked on the new Thoughtful Branches bundle since I got it.  My latest project is this set of five note cards with a matching gift box.  Thanks go to Jenny Moors, UK Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for the inspiration!  I followed her instructions for the box to a T, then put my own spin on the cards!  Here's the full set:

The cards were all made using the Stampin' Up! notecards.  They're made from thick Whisper White cardstock already scored for you, and they come twenty to a package including envelopes for $6.00 US.  I love how simple yet impressive these cards are.  The Sweet Sugarplum hydrangeas are painted with clear Wink of Stella - that's the shimmer that you see in the photo.  The tree trunk in the foreground was embossed with Copper - love it with the pinks.  Change up the greeting and this card would make a wonderful thank you for a baby shower, with its soft blue and pink hues.  Check back later this week for more details on how I made each card!

Happy stamping,
Pat

Thoughtful Branches is Available Now!

Hi Stampers,

Today is the first day to order the exclusive, limited-time Thoughtful Branches bundle!

If you're on the fence about ordering this set and need more inspiration, check out Stampin' Up's Thoughtful Branches Pinterest Board!

Don't forget to use those Bonus Days coupons you earned in July!

Happy Stamping & Shopping,

Pat