Let's Thank Our Heroes

Hey Friends!

Today I'm sharing cards I designed to show appreciation for our nation's military heroes.  A friend asked me for a set of cards she could use to send to retired military friends on Veteran's Day, but why wait for a special day?  Our troops both active & retired need to know they are appreciated everyday!

These are quick and easy to make.  Both use only two colors of ink - Real Red and Dapper Denim -on a Thick Whisper White card base.

There are four different stamp sets that I used on these cards.  The sad thing is, three of the four are on the retiring list!  I use them all a lot, and will continue using them for my own personal projects.  On the first card, the swooshes and hearts are from Work of Art.  This one is carrying over to the new catalog coming in June.  The "thank you" is from Tin of Cards, and "for your service" is from Endless Thanks, both retiring in May.  The white star is die-cut from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper with the Stars Framelits Dies.  The Stars Framelits are also on the retiring list.

The second card uses Gorgeous Grunge to make the spatters across the card - I stamped 2 different images multiple times to get this effect.  Gorgeous Grunge is retiring and will no longer be available after May 31.  The stars once again are cut using the Stars Framelits (retiring) out of Dazzling Diamonds and Red Glimmer Paper.  The smallest stars were punched out with a previously retired punch.

I used Real Red & Dapper Denim  cardstock to make a box that holds a dozen of these cards and envelopes using my Envelope Punch Board.  The square decorating the boxtop was cut with the Stitched Shapes Framelits.

I hope you have enjoyed this project!  

Visit my website today to see the complete list of retiring products.  Any order that contains one or more of the retiring stamps or dies used in this project will get a free pdf instruction sheet of how to make the card box - just make sure to provide me with your email address!

Happy stamping,

Pat

Special Reason for a Special Season

Hi Stampers,

Spring is coming!  In spite of the big snowstorm predicted for the beginning of this week, Easter is only five weeks away.  Can you believe it?  If you need further proof that Spring is just around the corner, Daylight Savings Time is back!  I love having that extra hour of daylight in the evening to take a walk or ride my bike after dinner.  Doing my Happy Dance today!

The coming of Spring was my inspiration for these cards using the Special Reason Bundle.

Sweet Sugarplum, Blushing Bride and So Saffron are the soft, beautiful colors of Easter.  The speckled Sweet Sugarplum background was created using the largest image from Gorgeous Grunge. The flowers are die-cut into the card front using the Stylish Stems Framelits Dies.  The Sweet Sugarplum card base shows through the largest flower and the smaller flowers have So Saffron and Blushing Bride cardstock adhered behind the card front using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

 The beautiful greeting comes from Suite Sentiments, stamped with Archival Black and die-cut with the Stitched Shapes Framelits.  Sweet Sugarplum was sponged lightly over the greeting before it was removed from the die.

Pearl Basic Jewels are the finishing touch for both versions of this card.

On my second version of this card, the white flower petals were die-cut then adhered on top of a second, solid die-cut piece.  

The leaf was die-cut from Pear Pizzazz cardstock.

I love the mixture of fonts on this sentiment - so elegant!

A trio of flowers from the Special Reason stamp set decorate the envelope - no naked envelopes here!

I hope you are inspired to create your own cards to celebrate Spring.  If I can help you in any way, please contact me!

Happy stamping,

Pat

Thoughtful Branches Hydrangea

Hi Stampers,

I'm so excited to share with you today a sneak peek at the new, limited edition Thoughtful Branches Bundle!  You can purchase it beginning August 2 through August 31, while supplies last.  As a demonstrator, I was able to order it early and begin using it right away.  Did I mention how awesome it is to have early access to new products and catalogs?  One of the many perks of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  I love my job!

As soon as I saw this stamp set, all I could think of was using it to create beautiful hydrangeas (one of my favorites)!

I love these colors together.  The background cardstock is Smoky Slate with some random Gorgeous Grunge dots stamped in Smoky Slate.  I always reach for Gorgeous Grunge whenever I feel like there's something missing from a card.  I hope that set never retires - I would be so sad!  My hydrangea is mounted on a 4" square of Shimmery White cardstock that has a light watercolor wash of Sweet Sugarplum.  The squiggly frame is one of the design elements from Tin of Cards.  The leaves are die-cut from Pear Pizzazz, my favorite go-to green.  The star of the show is in 2 layers - I stamped it  first using Sweet Sugarplum ink on Sweet Sugarplum cardstock.  Then I die-cut it and cut a second one (not stamped) from Rich Razzleberry which I mounted behind the stamped layer to give it depth.  It doesn't show in the photo (darn!) but the entire flower head is covered in a beautiful, shimmery coat of clear Wink of Stella.

Almost as lovely as the real thing...

Don't forget about Bonus Days - just under two weeks left to earn discounts!  For every $50 of Stampin' Up products you purchase by July 31, get a $5 off coupon to use in August.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I would be honored if you choose me as your Stampin' Up demonstrator.  

Happy stamping,

Pat

From Land to Sea Shaker Card

Hi Stampers!

I had a request this week to create a special "under the sea" themed card for a 40th birthday.  I love special requests - gets the creative juices flowing!  I designed this shaker card using only three colors but five different stamp sets, what fun I had making it!

Can you name the five stamp sets I used?  (Answer at the end of this post!)

The three colors are Bermuda Bay, Soft Sky and Perfect Plum!  The front of the card is created from Soft Sky cardstock, although it photographed much lighter than it actually is.  The two lighter colored sea turtles are stamped in Soft Sky and the spatters are Bermuda Bay.  The sea fan is stamped in Versamark & heat set with clear embossing powder.  Then I sponged Bermuda Bay & Perfect Plum over top of it - this technique is called "emboss resist" because the embossing powder resists picking up the ink.  The main sea turtle is stamped in Perfect Plum on Bermuda Bay cardstock.

I found some iridescent sequins at my local craft store that I really like because they pick up the other colors.  In addition to those I separated some from my reel of Bermuda Bay sequin trim and also found some matching seed beads at the craft store.

I hope you like this!  Everyone loves shaker cards - they're as much fun to make as they are to receive!

Here are the five stamp sets:  From Land to Sea, Gorgeous Grunge, Time of Year (hostess only), By the Tide (retired), and Mixed Borders.  OK, it was a trick question because Mixed Borders is on the inside of the card for the greeting!  Even though By the Tide is retired, the sea fan could be replaced by the jellyfish that's included with the From Land to Sea set.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pat

Brand-new Stamps!! Yay!

Hello again!

Beginning on February 16, Stampin ' Up has 2 new stamp sets that you can earn for FREE with any $50 purchase!  Biking is one of my favorite activities, so the Pedal Pusher stamp set really appeals to me.  It's great all by itself, but I also love the way it works with the stamp sets I already own.  On this card, I added the sun image from Kinda Eclectic, the "swish" from Work of Art, and of course the grunge is from one of my all-time favorites, Gorgeous Grunge.  The "Hi" is from the other brand-new stamp set which becomes available on Tuesday, Party Pants.  I'm working on a card to show you that uses this set, too!

Check out these 2 new stamp sets on my website beginning February 16.  Be sure to look for the third new Sale-a-Bration item also, a set of 3 rolls of gorgeous glitter tape in gold, silver & white!  (Hint:  you can color the white with a sponge dauber to match any color!)

Happy Stamping,

Pat

Stampin' with the Oldies

OK, I realize that the title of this blogpost could have two meanings.  I am spending the winter in the retirement RV resort, after all.  But the oldies I was referring to are Flower Shop and Gorgeous Grunge, of course!  One of my RV neighbors is having a birthday today and we are celebrating with them and two other couples at a Mexican restaurant tonight.  So of course, I had to make her a card.  Mind you I already have a stack of birthday cards with me, but I never miss an opportunity to make another, lol!

This card is fun & easy to make in your favorite colors.  Just use a neutral color for the stamping on the card base.  I used Crumb Cake on these samples.  Match your mat to the neutral you choose, then add your favorite colors!  Email me for more details if you need them.  Have a great day!

Pat

Clean & Simple

Good Monday Morning!

I have two quick cards to share with you today.  The first is a thank-you card for one of my Stampin' Up! customers.  I used the stamp set Endless Thanks.  It has so many nice ways to say "thank you", I know I will be using this one a lot.  The background is stamped with Gorgeous Grunge.  My colors are Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party & Pear Pizzazz.  Flowers from the Itty Bitty Accents punch trimmed with rhinestones and a few loops of metallic thread finish this card.

The second card is one I made for my son and daughter-in-law's anniversary this week.  I pulled out an IO stamp, an oldie but goodie that I've always loved for cards like this.  I love the way the "swishes" from Work of Art emphasize the image.  I used Crumb Cake for the base and Baja Breeze (retired) for the mat.  It doesn't show up well in the photo, but the bottom swish is stamped with heat & stick powder then glittered - it's really simple but beautiful.  The top swish is Baja Breeze.