I find that there’s a lot of people in my life having birthdays.  I guess that’s a good thing because it sure beats the alternative right?   This is a card I made for one of my good friends birthday back in July.  I’m loving all the new Stampin’ Up! colors!

Here’s the inside of the card:

I love designing the inside of the card as well. And I don’t think that birthday cards have to have a “Happy Birthday” stamped on them. I like to pick the sentiment that I think fits the person getting the card. In this case – I thought the quote was perfect. Actually, though, you could use this card for a number of different occassions.

Recipe:

Stamps:   Friends never Fade, Favorite Thoughts

Paper:  Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White cardstock.  Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 1/8″ taffeta ribbon in Daffodil Delight,  Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.

It’s July in the South, which means lots of hot weather,  flowers, and in my family. . . birthdays. .   Of course, I turned to my newest go to set -  Awash with Flowers for this one.

It’s a variation of a previous card – but I love these colors!

Cardstock:  Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Ink:  Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White Craft Ink

Embellishments:  Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads,  Scallop Oval Punch,  Med Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch

Last week, I shared a sample from convention and my first attempt at recreating it.  I’ve finally gotten to play some more, so today I have more to share and a new technique!

We’ll start with the finished card I made for my Aunt’s 60th birthday.   I decided not to add ribbon or a sentiment to the outside because it seemed complete the way it was.

Brayered Window Sheet Birthday card

I did add a sentiment to the inside.

Inside of card.

This is an easy technique and I think it really gives a nice WOW factor to the card.

To create the background:

1.  Add 2 drops of reinker about an inch apart from each other on a piece of wax paper.   Then stagger 2 more drops of a different color about a 1/2 inch below the first two.

2.  Spritz the reinker/wax paper with rubbing alcohol.  Roll the Brayer in the inch and apply to glossy card stock.

3.  Sprtiz the brayed card stock with rubbing alcohol.  And place the paper, glossy side down on the inked portion of the wax paper.   Brayer the back of the cardstock.

4.  Allow to dry.

You’ll end up with something similar to this.  A heavier spritz on the brayered side at step 3 will give more interest and variability to the finished sheet.  I used the retired Baha Breeze and Pacific Point reinkers for this one.

Brayered background

5.  Using a dry aqua painter (that’s right, no water in it), touch the brush to your craft ink pad (for this one I used Tempting Turquoise, on the tree below, I used Whisper White).  Apply the craft ink to the window sheet to add accent (for the flowers, I just did the center.  For the tree, I  was creating snow on the leaves and branches) .

6.  Add Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and set with heat tool.  When you are using the heat tool, keep the tool moving.  Don’t hover over 1 place or you’ll burn the window sheet.

7.  Attach the window sheet to your background using glue dots and finish your card.

I tried this with Dazzling Diamonds glitter earlier in the week.  The main difference is the glitter is flat on the surface and the embossing powder is puffy and raised.  So especially on the tree, it adds dimension and feels more like snow.

Here’s a picture of the tree done with the embossing powder.

Embossed Tree Window Sheet

I really love how this makes such wonderful snow!  And it doesn’t come off the card like glitter does!    I hope you enjoyed seeing how to do this!  I’d love to see what someone else comes up with !

Dawnmarie

Well, Friday was at least, for my friend Mary.  I’m always trying to come up with something special for my friends.  This is the card that Mary got from me for her birthday this year.

Playful Petals Birthday Card

I used the set Playful Petals, which is available online even though it’s not in the catalog.  The base of the card is Almost Amethyst and I also used the Tea Party DSP.  The Ribbon is the So Saffron ribbon from Sale-A-Bration. And the border was created using the eyelet border punch.

Last night was our local demonstrators meeting.  Between the holiday, and having company, and getting ready to be out of town again, I was a little pressed for time to create my swaps.   Luckily, my first order from the new catalog arrived just in time!

I ended up playing with the new embossing folder – Elegant Bouquet – It is so easy to use and makes a great starting point.

Elegant Bouquet Cards

I used some of our new In colors – Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry and random sentiments from the new set Teeny Tiny wishes.  I sanded the image after embossing, and used the white gel pen to  color the centers of the flowers.   The sentiments are layered using the small oval, large oval, and scalloped oval punches.

Here’s a close up of the card to show more of the embossing detail.

Melon Mambo Happy Birthday

I’ve been looking for inspiration for my convention swaps that I absolutely must get started on soon!  Convention is just a few weeks away!   One of my favorite places to look for inspiration is on my fellow demo’s blogs.   I was looking through Paula’s blog  and found this absolutely cute peaks and valley card.  I think I will definitely have to try this for one of my convention swaps!

And here’s some other projects Paula’s done that use our new products!  These are so cute, I just had to share them!

Time to get off of here and get stampin’!

It’s almost here!  The Bon Voyage cruise through Stampin’ Up!’s latest group of retiring stamps.   The tour starts tomorrow at noon and continues until Tuesday at midnight!  Be sure to stop by and check out all the wonderful projects showcasing these stamps!

Okay, just for fun , I’m giving you a sneak peek into this weekend.   I’ll be showcasing the set Big Bold Birthday!   I’ve already posted a project with this set – but it was my absolute favorite that I’d done -until I started working on this weekend’s projects!

So I thought I would post it again -

This is a design I cased from stamp? on Splitcoaststampers.  I thought it was pretty close to a masculine card even though my dh says it’s kind of cutesy!   Oh, well, I guess we do what we have to do. . .  . .

I also stamped the packages on the envelope.   Inside, I embossed  the message  ” Live, Laugh & Love  happy birthday” from the set “On your birthday.”

This card uses the Big Bold Birthday stamp set, On your birthday stamp set, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and Whisper White CS,  Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and Old Olive ink and white embossing powder.

This set is really versatile.   I’ve got some great projects for tomorrow!    There’s a scrapbook page, a birthday party favor and of course, some cards – Be sure to stop back by!

If you don’t recognize it, the quote above is from the 1958 movie “Mame.”   Auntie Mame makes the statement several times during the movie.  I loved her character.  She was all about living life to the fullest.  She’s such a wonderful character that I find myself wishing that she was real and that I had known her.

I think Auntie Mame would have loved the sentiment of this card (it’s probably too simple for her.  she was a little ostentatious).  I love the thought and the simplicity of the card.  I hope whereever you are today, that you take some time to . . . . .  Live, Laugh & Love.

Live, Laugh & Love Card

Recipe:   Paper- Kraft, Mellow Moss, Elegant Eggplant; Ink -  Whisper White Craft, Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant;  Stamps:  Petal Pizazz, On Your Birthday; Accessories- White EP, Pretties Kit Pearl

I love being thankful and I especially love celebrating!  I don’t need a reason, just being alive is reason enough.   Today’s card could be used for birthday, congratulations, or just because!

Celebrate Card

Of course, if I’m celebrating, I’m using my favorite set!  Yeah, it’s “Thoughts & Prayers.”  What can I say?  It’s my weakness.  I embossed the word celebrate and added Certainly Celery brads to jazz it up.

Now I’m off to celebrate!  What’s going on in your life that you can celebrate?  Come on!  Take a moment and celebrate something – it’ll make your day.  I promise.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers;  Paper:  Kraft, Very Vanilla, Night of Navy; Ink:  Night of Navy, Certainly Celery

Birthday card for my fil

It’s always a challenge to make a masculine birthday card.  But I think this one worked well.  It’s using the retired set Organic Grace, but it would work well with Lovely as a Tree or Le Jardin Botanique (both of which are available in the current catalog).  The silver frame around the sentiment is from the silver Hodgepodge Hardware.  I think the Hodgepodge Hardware is great for adding masculine touches to a card.   The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, which is my favorite birthday set.  There are 12 different birthday sentiments in this set.  It’s awesome!   I used the Sahara Sand,  Old Olive and Very Vanilla Card Stock, Versamark and Old Olive Ink and the 3/16″ corner rounder punch.

I made this card early in February for my father-in-law’s birthday.  I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Stamping!

I don’t know about you, but I find it really hard to design a birthday card for men.  This is a design I cased from stamp? on Splitcoaststampers.  I thought it was pretty close to a masculine card even though my dh says it’s kind of cutesy!   Oh, well, I guess we do what we have to do. . .  . .

Manly Bday Card?

I also stamped the packages on the envelope!  I’ll be giving this card to either my dad-in-law or bro-in-law later this month!  I hope they like it.  Inside, I embossed  the message  ” Live, Laugh & Love  happy birthday” 

Inside of manly bday card

This card uses the Big Bold Birthday set, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and Whisper White CS,  Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and Old Olive ink and white embossing powder. We’ll be making this card at my Stamp-A-Stack later this month!  For details, check the list of upcoming events on my Stampin’ Up! website.

Have a great day!